The estate of late American actress and model, Anna Nicole Smith, has filed a lawsuit against fashion brand Von Dutch, accusing the company of using her image without legal authorization.

The legal action was initiated by Anna Nicole Smith Inc., the entity managing the intellectual property rights of the former Playboy model, who died in 2007 at the age of 39. The suit claims Von Dutch exploited Smith’s likeness to promote its merchandise despite lacking the necessary rights or consent.

At the center of the controversy is a photo the fashion label shared on social media in April 2025. The image, taken from Smith’s 2004 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, showed her in a cowboy hat with the caption: “Our iconic Anna Nicole Smith hat from her original VD collection.”

However, representatives of the estate argue that there was no formal agreement between Smith and Von Dutch for long-term commercial use of her image. They also dispute the claim that the hat featured in the post was part of any officially licensed collection.

Although Smith once collaborated with Von Dutch on a fashion line, the estate insists the deal expired years ago and did not grant perpetual rights. A source close to the matter said Smith never referenced the hat publicly, nor did she endorse its commercial use at the time.

In addition to seeking damages, the estate wants the court to stop further use of Smith’s likeness by the brand.

Requests for comment have been sent to Von Dutch, Smith’s estate, and her ex-partner Larry Birkhead, the father of her daughter, Dannielynn, who turned 18 last year.

Smith rose to fame in the 1990s, and remains an influential pop culture figure whose legacy continues to spark legal and media battles nearly two decades after her death.